What is the cheapest and easiest way to remove grease off of a bicycle chain?

Question

I heard kerosene works great, but i don't know where to get it. The stuff at the bike store is too expensive, $12 for a little tube!

Answer 1

Do what smart shop mechanics do to clean their chain: Remove the chain and put it in an empty two-liter plastic soda bottle. Fill it with a 4-1 mixture of water and Simple Green (a biodegradable citrus degreaser). Put the chain in the neck of the bottle, cap it, shake it vigourously for a few minutes, then let it sit for a half-hour. Meanwhile, use more Simple Green and a good toothbrush to scrub your cogs and chainrings down. Then just cut the top off the bottle, remove the chain, wipe it down, put it on the bike and lube it up.

Answer 2

I've been reading some of the post on this issue and some make sense and some don't. I wouldn't recommend gasoline and kerosene or the flammable solvents. I would not use soap or any of that crap because it just makes a mess and doesn't really clean anything but the outside of the chain which doesn't matter anyway. Soap + Water + metal = Rust ( hello)
When cleaning a bike chain it's important too clean the rollers and pins inside and to do that you have to soak the chain. Myself I prefer to use diesel fuel because it not only cleans and removes grease and grime, it's also oil base and leaves a nice thin oil base on the chain which doesn't hurt.
After soaking and cleaning hang the chain and let it drain then wipe it down and reinstall on the bike. Make a trip to the bike shop and purchase a bottle of ProLink chain lube, it cleans and lubricates as you ride and sheds off all the road crap,( Anti-static) and prevents corrosion and please when you clean your chain also clean the cassette and the chain rings at the same time. there's know sense in putting a nice clean chain back on dirty gears.

Answer 3

First of all, what are you using to lube your chain to begin with? I don't know of anything that would cause that much build-up of dirt and grime that you need to be drastic in the cleaning process.

I suggest you use a clean rag and wipe down your chain by spinning your crank-arms counter clock wise and holding the rag on the chain. Once you have the mess off the chain, re-lube your chain with a quality lube like Pedro's or White Lightning. Both of these lubes have a cleaning agent in them that will get the dirt out of the parts of the chain where you don't want it. Along with the cleaning agent you get a nice clean layer of lube on your chain. Once you have applied the lube pick up the back end of you bike and turn you crank arms clockwise to run the lube into the important parts. Make sure to wipe down the sides of the chain after lubing because that will collect the crap you ride over.

Check out this link to see many different lubes that may be much cheaper than your local bike shop.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/sub_cat.cfm?subcategory_id=4213

They also carry degreasers to help you clean those really nasty jobs.

*Remember to lube the chain well but don't go over board. A little dab on each link will do the trick. Don't forget to lube and clean your chain more often to avoid a simular situation happening again.

Answer 4

The cheapest option would probably be as everyone else has already stated...Dawn dish-washing soap, but I would recommend any citrus based cleaner/degreaser or simple green. You can spray either one directly on the chain and then grab a shop towel, run the pedals backward while holding the chain with the towel. Repeat as many times as necessary until the chain is clean.

Your other option is to buy a "chain cleaner." Initially they may cost you a little, but the convenience will pay for itself the more you use them. Pedro's makes one, as well as Finish Line, and I think that even Performance markets one on their site as well. (Performancebike.com). I think mine is by Pedro's but the brand really doesn't matter so long as it gets the job done. I love mine...it typically cleans the chain in under 2 minutes and takes only a little more time to setup for use.
I wouldn't recommend gasoline and kerosene...mainly for health and environmental concerns...i.e...skin contact and disposal/storage of the flammable solvents.

By the way...most chain cleaners come with a biodegradable cleaning solution, but if not, citrus degreaser or Simple Green are suitable substitutes to use in the cleaner.

Answer 5

very simply

don't clean your chain without lube after
don't lube without cleaning it before.

although bike specific citrus degreasers are expensive, they are all cheaper than replacement of your entire power train and or bike if you use the wrong product.

invest in chaincleaning and lube products like Park or Pedros and take the time to learn to use them. I do save $$ on the degrease by doing this:

put citrus degrease in the Park chain clean tool, clean the chain, store the used degreaser in a spare sportsbottle. Just don't drink from that bottle ;-)

the actual dirt, grease etc settles to the bottom and you can use the product more than once.

kerosene and like products will remove bike lube from your works which will then immediately rust. non-bike specific lubes, car products are designed to ATTRACT AND HOLD DIRT. On a car this held debris gets spit out by various filters (You can tell I'm not a car mechanic).

On a bike this dirt wears down and eventually ruins your power train.

properly cleaning and lube your bike is the single best thing you can do to maintain and add years to it. Well maintained your bike can be a lifetime bike.

Answer 6

WD-40 is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to remove grease from a bicycle chain.

You then need to relubricate the chain -- light motor oil will work fine.

Answer 7

Dawn detergent. Massage Dawn full strength into the links, then work in hot water. Rinse, then COMPLETELY dry with a hair dryer or in the oven. Use your favorite lube. I like paraffin on the hot chain with a touch of 3-in-1 to finish. Another good cleaner is Simple Green.

Answer 8

You said cheapest and easiest.. Gasoline (even though the price is quite high) is probably the easiest.. take the chain off and dunk it in gasoline and swish it back and forth or with a small brush.. brush it in the gasoline and the grease will come off.

Answer 9

Dawn (or just about any dishwashing liquid) or Simple Green or Orange Blast. I prefer the last 2 because they are dedicated degreasers and work better. Rinse well and lube properly.

Answer 10

Do not use any petroleum based product... if money is your issue, try Dawn dishwashing detergent and water. Make sure you dry the chain thoroughly immediately afterward, and re lube it with proper chain lube (NOT WD-40).

Good luck and ride safe!